Rajpal Singh is a former captain of India national hockey team. He plays from the forward position. He is an Arjuna Award winner. He is a graduate from Chandigarh’s SGGS Khalsa College and a product of Siwalik Public School. Rajpal Singh hogged the limelight with a sterling show at his first international outing at the 2001 Youth Asia Cup. India won the Cup at Ipoh, Malaysia, where he was also ‘Player of the Tournament’, with seven goals in his kitty. Rajpal Singh,was in the news before the home world cup, as he unitedly led his team's fight for its rights with the hockey administrators.
Career
Beginning
Younger son of a retired police, Rajpal represented Chandigarh in Junior Nationals. After the Hobart Junior World Cup gold, he joined Indian Oil Corporation. A long wait for his senior debut ended when, under the tutelage of Rajinder Singh Jr., he travelled to the 2005 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. He succeeded Deepak Thakur at the right wing. In fall 2007, he played in the German second division for Marienburger SC, Cologne. In the first round, he scored four times. With Adrian D'Souza, Bimal Lakra and William Xalco, there played four Indians for this club. Rajpal was one of many Indians in 2007 who played in Germany in preparation for the Olympic Games2008 in China.
Under the captaincy of Rajpal, the Indian team regained their title as they emerged joint winners along with Korea in a rain-affected final at the 19th edition of Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. In one of the group matches, the Indian team defeated the Australian team 4–3.
Commonwealth Games
Under his captaincy, the Indian team entered into semifinal of Commonwealth Games, Delhi after defeating Pakistan by 7-4. It persuaded against the England in the semifinals to be the first team to make sure of a medal for India in CWG Hockey history. But the final was a washout with India going down 8-0 against the mighty Australia.
He captained the Indian team to the inaugural 2011 Asian Men's Hockey Champions Trophy, which India won by defeating arch-rivals Pakistan in the final. But Rajpal was removed as the captain on 30 September and was replaced by goalkeeper Bharat Chhetri. It is believed that his demotion was imminent as he had led the team's revolt against the federation for giving meager rewards after the Champion's Trophy triumph.
Premier Hockey League
Rajpal leads hugely popular Chandigarh Dynamos in the PHL. Rajpal, a PPS officer is currently serving in the Punjab Police as a Deputy Superintendent of Police.
